The Trees Are Calling Me Near
Word Count: 369
Rating: K+/PG
Disclaimer: Normally I'm wittier, but... I got nothing. I own nothing.
Summary: Alternate/Extended version of the movie scene in Fangorn forest. The trees have a message for Legolas before he meets the wizard.
Author's Note: Okay, so in part this is because I wrote Dawn is a Feeling. It got me all in the mood to do another story based on lyrics from the Moody Blues, and I immediately went to Tuesday Afternoon.

So when I got to the part that goes: "The trees are drawing me near. I've got to find out why. Those gentle voices I hear explain it all with a sigh," I knew just where I wanted to stick this, since I couldn't help picturing Legolas' wonder in the forest. I left a bit open to interpretation, though, or at least I tried to...

It might help if I say that gildin is a term that Gandalf uses in one of my other stories. So... interpret that as you will. :)

The Trees Are Calling Me Near

"Look at him," the dwarf groused, looking on the elf with disgust. "He'd spend all day in those trees if he were able, and us with hobbits to hunt and wizards and orcs to fight."

The ranger smiled, shaking his head, though he knew that it was fatigue that caused this latest bout of grumbling, not a lack of affection. He had seen how close the elf and dwarf had become, and he knew that they would fight and die for each other. That was the loyalty this fellowship had created—but also it was the way Legolas saw all his friends.

"The trees are talking to each other," Legolas said, his voice full of awe as he looked around the trees, caught up in the language of the trees, a look of longing in his face. He would stay here and listen all day, as Gimli claimed, but Aragorn knew that alongside Legolas' sense of wonder was also a sense of duty and purpose, one that would not allow them to abandon Merry and Pippin to their fate.

"Bah. What do trees have to talk about besides the consistency of squirrel droppings?"

Aragorn frowned over at the dwarf, shaking his head. He could not communicate with the trees himself, but he respected them. He owed his life to the warnings the trees had given his companions, and he would not be here if not for them.

"Legolas?"

"A spark of hope has returned to me," the elf answered. "One I thought lost."

"Hope? Here? In this tree-infested forest?"

Aragorn gave Gimli a warning look, but he did not know that Legolas had even heard him, as lost in the speech of the trees as he was.

"A gildin."

That had a particular significance to the elf, but Aragorn was not certain he remembered what it was—or if Legolas had ever told him. Perhaps that was about the tale he'd meant to tell Aragorn years ago involving teaching some other elfling to talk to trees. He started to ask, but Legolas tensed, distracted once again.

"Aragorn, nad no ennas!"

"Man cenich?"

The elf darted forward. "The white wizard approaches."

And all thought of conversations with trees were forgotten.